The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane by Sheila Roberts

Author:Sheila Roberts [Roberts, Sheila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488034831
Publisher: MIRA Books
Published: 2014-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

The banquet room at Pancake Haus was packed with the town’s movers and shakers. Ed York, who owned D’vine Wines, stood visiting with several people, including Sammy and Cecily’s friend Charlene Masters. Also in the circle stood longtime family friend Pat Wilder. From the way Ed looked at her when she talked, it was easy to tell he was smitten. And the way she looked back—well, she was smitten, too. All the bed-and-breakfast and motel owners were present, as well as most of the shop owners. Del Stone, the town’s mayor, was just finding a seat at the center of the large table next to Dot Morrison, who owned Pancake Haus, and on her other side sat Bubba Swank, who owned The Big Brats, the town’s favorite spot for sausages and great German potato salad.

Various people were still filing in. Here came skinny Hildy Johnson, followed by Tina Swift, who sent Bailey an uncomfortable smile and then scooted past her. Samantha entered the room after her, a picture of business casual in dark jeans, a crisp, white blouse and a red leather jacket, her long, brown hair falling loose to her shoulders.

She blinked at the sight of Bailey and hurried over to give her a hug. “This is a surprise.” As in, what are you doing here?

“Olivia invited me,” Bailey said.

Samantha nodded approvingly. “Good idea. You might get inspired.”

Before Bailey could ask what, exactly, her big sister thought she’d get inspired to do, Ed York spoke from his end of the banquet room.

“Okay, people,” he said, raising his voice to be heard over the hubbub. “Please go ahead and find a seat.”

Everyone obliged, and they were almost all seated when one last person slipped into the room.

Saffron, basil and thyme! Who the heck was that? Bailey hadn’t seen anyone so beautiful in town since Brandon left. Where had this dark-haired piece of gorgeous been hiding? He should be in Hollywood. He was better-looking than half the aspiring stars down there.

He gave her a sexy smile as he sat down opposite her and Olivia and said, “Hi.”

“Hi,” she stuttered. Hard to stutter a one-syllable word, but Bailey managed. She also managed to knock over her mug, spilling a river of coffee in his direction. “Oh, sorry.” She reached for a napkin to mop it up and knocked over her water glass, as well.

He moved his chair away from the table. “No problem.” He grabbed a napkin and mopped up some of it, then disappeared.

Way to drive away a good-looking man, she scolded herself.

“Don’t worry. He’ll be back,” Olivia said.

Sure enough, he was back a moment later with a handful of napkins. “Olivia, I see you finally found someone as pretty as yourself to hang out with,” he teased as he wiped up the mess.

Olivia’s plump cheeks turned pink. “You are so full of frijoles,” she scolded him. “This is Bailey Sterling.”

“Sterling. You’re Cecily’s sister?”

“Yes. You know her?” Silly question. Everyone in Icicle Falls knew everyone else. So, how come Bailey didn’t know him?

He nodded.

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